Why are *some* kids wasting time with college? Or: How the military can payoff!

[Zebo]

I just got off the phone with my nephew who's getting out of the Navy Seebees constuction batallion, he's 21 nad got a job as a crane/heavy equipment operator for $27.50 an hour. No suits, no office PC crap and forget about work once your home and he's making 60K as what I feel is still a kid.

 

[StageLeft]

Good for him - but most people can't enter the navy and at the age of 21 come out making $60k.

Also some people like to go for more than jsut a resume builder. I also personally wouldn't want to do that all day.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Good for him - but most people can't enter the navy and at the age of 21 come out making $60k.

Also some people like to go for more than jsut a resume builder. I also personally wouldn't want to do that all day.

Ditto. Also I don't want to go to work full time even with a lot of money after I'm 18 or 21. He probably went to the Navy at 18 right? Well I myself am goign to Uni to live the lifestyle and have fun before I start to work full time at about 24. Also I like studying so I'm hopefully going to get 5 years worth of it. 4 Years CS BSc with 1 year in industry or study abroad. Then might do a MSc for 5 year total.

 

[Rainsford]

It's kind of hard to get a job designing FPGAs with no college degree, wouldn't you say? Sure, you can make enough money without a college education if you are lucky, but some of us don't want to be crane operators the rest of our lives. And for those of us that don't, college is not a "waste of time".

 

[SWirth86]

Operating heavy mchinery does pay well. But I would rather go college and have fun, and learn, and get a higher paying job. College isnt all about getting a good job later on. Its an experience, same as high school.

 

[MrBond]

There's probably not much room for advancement as a crane operator. I'd like to manage people someday, working on my ChemE degree now with a minor in business, will get my MBA sometime after I graduate. Until then, I'll take my $47,000 starting salary (on average) and know that eventually I could probably double it

 

[Zebo]

Relax guys.. I also value education. I was simply amazed though at what he's making and thought I wouold share. Hell when i graduated with a BS chem and went to work for Lockheed I started at 38,500 in 96' and thought I was overpaid.

Just something to think about and to not rag on those w/o college.

 

[laFiera]

military is good if you ahve the personality for it!!!
I dont think i could survive being bossed around.....but then again, i survived my dad!!!!

 

[ElFenix]

in terms of PDV this kid is probably way ahead of most of us that went to college, and if he invests wisely might retire with more than 90% of us.

 

[Hoober]

There's something to be said for coming out of the Navy and landing a nice job. I just graduated this year and I consider myself lucky landing an IT job. College isn't for everybody. The Navy isn't for everybody. I'm glad to hear that he got a job. There's something to be said for that in today's economy.

 

[StageLeft]

Hey I also think he's doing well. I have a degree plus extra education and experience and he's making more than me I have patience tho!

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Relax guys.. I also value education. I was simply amazed though at what he's making and thought I wouold share. Hell when i graduated with a BS chem and went to work for Lockheed I started at 38,500 in 96' and thought I was overpaid.

Just something to think about and to not rag on those w/o college.

i saw what you were saying. that is pretty impressive. but he went into the military, which IMO goes right along side college in preparing you for life. i would never rag on someone that went into the military instead of college, but to those have done neither, i wouldn't consider that an intelligent step in your life. (i'm not talking about those people that didn't need a college education/military experience as much as kids that graduate today do.)

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
in terms of PDV this kid is probably way ahead of most of us that went to college, and if he invests wisely might retire with more than 90% of us.

Good observation. He's 9 years younger than I, makes about the same but can start saving immediatly without the burden of student loans like most of us have. It's simple compounding over time he starts at 21 most of us start at 25 with a lower salery and more debt.

Anyway for those who think college may not be for them this may be something to check into if this type of work appeals to you.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
I just off off the phone with my nephew who's getting out of the Navy Seebees constuction batallion, he's 21 nad got a job as a crane/heavy equipment operator for $27.50 an hour. No suits, no office PC crap and forget about work once your home and he's making 60K as what I feel is still a kid.

 

[gopunk]

frankly, 60k is not what i plan on making. that's like worst case for me.

 

[Dually]

Well I want to make more than that so this next year I am going to law school.

 

[LordSnailz]

I just off off the phone with my nephew who's getting out of the Navy Seebees constuction batallion, he's 21 nad got a job as a crane/heavy equipment operator for $27.50 an hour. No suits, no office PC crap and forget about work once your home and he's making 60K as what I feel is still a kid.

college is not just about the money - a big part of going to college is the college experience, there are many things about life that college is going to teach you and more imptly., it's the different people you'll meet and get to know. But at the same time, going to college does not guarantee you a 60k job - depending on you major, it'll be probably a 10k difference but if you asked me whether 10k was worth teh college experience, I would say yes.

my 2 cents,
ls

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
I just off off the phone with my nephew who's getting out of the Navy Seebees constuction batallion, he's 21 nad got a job as a crane/heavy equipment operator for $27.50 an hour. No suits, no office PC crap and forget about work once your home and he's making 60K as what I feel is still a kid.

college is not just about the money - a big part of going to college is the college experience, there are many things about life that college is going to teach you and more imptly., it's the different people you'll meet and get to know. But at the same time, going to college does not guarantee you a 60k job - depending on you major, it'll be probably a 10k difference but if you asked me whether 10k was worth teh college experience, I would say yes.

my 2 cents,
ls

not to mention, you have more opportunity to advance, with a degree.

 

[Blayze]

Well I'm 22 and I make $0.00 an hour. God I need a job.

The more I go to college the more I hate it. I am going to a community college though so thats probably why. I really need to start working on some certs, but I have no ideal where to start. Hopefully when I finish this 2 year degree this year, I'll find out what I want to do. Im behind, but I don't care.

 

[DigDug]

Carbonyl. So your nephew makes 60k. Assuming that is a good salary (no comment), tell me: what happens if he loses his job?
Don't be so naive to think that a lucky breakmeans anything - marketability and occupational resilience are two things that you just ain't gonna get without a degree. Sure there are exceptions, but are YOU willing to play those odds? Not me.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: BlipBlop
Carbonyl. So your nephew makes 60k. Assuming that is a good salary (no comment), tell me: what happens if he loses his job?
Don't be so naive to think that a lucky breakmeans anything - marketability and occupational resilience are two things that you just ain't gonna get without a degree. Sure there are exceptions, but are YOU willing to play those odds? Not me.

LOL. what is good? It's a relative term and yes 60K for a 21 year old journeyman crane operator is damn good relative to his peers and even the general population for that matter. And how's this a lucky break? He applied at the Union hall while still being in the Seebee's and they offered him more than a re-enlistment bonus/salery would have. He worked for four years to learn this trade like anyone else. Luck my ass. Hard job which requires relocation to where they are building steel structures.

As for lossing his job; any employee can have the same thing happen to them, the only difference it's a little harder to fire union unless there is no work. Well as far as I can tell population growth will continue to require more building and keep him emloyeed anywhere in the world he chooses.

Bottom line is I'm proud of him and he made a wise financial decision to leave the military with an applicable/useful trade.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl

Originally posted by: BlipBlop
Carbonyl. So your nephew makes 60k. Assuming that is a good salary (no comment), tell me: what happens if he loses his job?
Don't be so naive to think that a lucky breakmeans anything - marketability and occupational resilience are two things that you just ain't gonna get without a degree. Sure there are exceptions, but are YOU willing to play those odds? Not me.

LOL. what is good? It's a relative term and yes 60K for a 21 year old journeyman crane operator is damn good relative to his peers and even the general population for that matter. And how's this a lucky break? He applied at the Union hall while still being in the Seebee's and they offered him more than a re-enlistment bonus/salery would have. He worked for four years to learn this trade like anyone else. Luck my ass. Hard job which requires relocation to where they are building steel structures.

As for lossing his job; any employee can have the same thing happen to them, the only difference it's a little harder to fire union unless there is no work. Well as far as I can tell population growth will continue to require more building and keep him emloyeed anywhere in the world he chooses.

Bottom line is I'm proud of him and he made a wise financial decision to leave the military with an applicable/useful trade.

it's great that you're proud of him.... but i don't see where you're coming off with this "wasting time with college" thing. i'd rather have a degree in CS.

 

[sheselectric]

Originally posted by: Dually
Well I want to make more than that so this next year I am going to law school.

 

[Zebo]

Gopunk you know better than that. "It's humor my dear Zolkof" and I was really surprised by this.

There is no substitue for education and knowledge but everyone is'nt cut out for it. IMO way too many people are in college who don't want to be there or should'nt be there. And this post was to give these folks something to perhaps look into.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Gopunk you know better than that. "It's humor my dear Zolkof" and I was really surprised by this.

There is no substitue for education and knowledge but everyone is'nt cut out for it. IMO way too many people are in college who don't want to be there or should'nt be there. And this post was to give these folks something to perhaps look into.

i see... well i guess i just got confused with your all-inclusive "you kids".

i agree though, unless you're some kind of immigrant or something, your time is probably better spent in the military than a junior college. you learn a trade (case in point), and you get all those benefits... loans... your children are eligible for scholarships... not a bad deal at all.